Case study: Ray Preston

Recovering alcoholic Ray Preston, 71, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, gave up drinking three years ago.

"Things changed when I was in my fifties when I changed from drinking beer to whisky.

"You start with one at 8pm and then it comes forward and forward until, after my wife passed away, it was a bottle a day, which started as soon as I got up in the morning until I passed out at night.

"I think the big session I had after my wife died was because of the grief, but I cannot tell you why I started drinking so heavily in my fifties.

"Once I retired I had a lot of time on my hands."

Three years ago, Mr Preston had treatment at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny and has not had a drink since.

"I did it through sheer bloody-mindedness and my son threatening I would never see him or his family ever again," he said.

"And I could never be without my grandchildren."

"Under-age drinkers often drink in public spaces because they cannot get into pubs. That kind of drinking - that you might see in Cardiff or Swansea, or any other city on a Saturday night - is very obvious.

"But older people drinking isn't so obvious, and isn't generally linked to public or anti-social behaviour.

"When you are talking about drinking amongst older people you have got a range right through from people in their 60s, who are probably still at work and maybe have got into the habit of drinking after work, right through to people in their 70s and 80s.

"They might be experiencing some of the difficulties of coming to older age, such as adjusting to retirement, possibly the passing away of partners or friends, or health problems such as poor sleep, and alcohol might be seen as a very easily accessed self-medication.

'Disrespectful'

"I think we're realising more and more than we need different approaches.

“Start Quote

Some older people drink alcohol because they mistakenly believe it will warm them up”

End QuoteRhian PearceAge Cymru

"There is a bit of an issue that drug and alcohol services are seen as for young people and older people are perhaps more reluctant to access them.

"I know some services have looked at getting older staff on board because some people don't like to discuss it with people in their 20s."

He said some staff might also find it difficult to ask older people about their drinking because it "might be seen as disrespectful".

Rhian Pearce, of Age Cymru, said alcohol tolerance diminishes with age.

Depression

She added: "Older people are also more likely to be taking one or more prescribed medications, which can interact badly with alcohol in the body.

"Also, remember that some cough remedies contain alcohol.

"Excessive alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of falls and accidents, worsen existing health problems, and also cause anxiety, confusion and depression.

"Some older people drink alcohol because they mistakenly believe it will warm them up. However, alcohol actually cools the body down."

Prof Ilana Crome, of Keele University, looked at substance misuse in older people for the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

"What we suggest, with the support of some American colleagues at this point, is that older people, if they are healthy, should not drink more than one and a half units a day and no more than 11 units of alcohol a week," she told BBC Radio Wales.

The Welsh government has launched a working group "to specifically oversee the development of guidance to improve access to substance misuse treatment for those aged 50 and older".

A spokesperson added: "The group consists of a wide range of stakeholders and the guidance will be out for a 12-week consultation period later this month.

"In addition, as part of its forward work programme, the Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse has agreed to provide advice on the issues to be taken into consideration and the policy interventions necessary to tackle substance misuse in an ageing population."

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